Transcript Handling Data – General - nc4

Vital Signs:
Data Collection and Handling
Ben Silliman, Youth Development Specialist
North Carolina 4-H
(4) H Files #1
The Go-Go-Gadgets 4-H Engineering Club held an extended
meeting to build and test a robotics project one Saturday.
Maria’s mom agreed to bring snacks in the afternoon
around 3PM. Soon after snacks arrived, 11 year-old Jamie
walked outside. A few moments later his mother picked him
up. Club leader Mr. Xi wondered why Jamie left so early,
especially since he had been enjoying the activities.
Later that afternoon, Jamie’s mother called to explain that her
son had left when he saw that the snacks contained
peanuts, to which he was allergic. He did not want to
embarrass Maria, so he called to go home. Mr. Xi said that
he would ask parents to avoid peanuts for snack in the
future.
What you wish you could have known
• How could Mr. Xi (or Maria’s mom) have known
about Jamie’s allergy?
• What might a club leader do with data about a
youth to develop his/her Head, Heart, Hands, and
Health?
• How/when should a club leader share data about a
youth?
• What about data not on forms?
(4) H Files #2
Wolfpack County 4-H teens were on a field trip to Washington,
DC when 15 year-old Rhonda began falling behind and
complaining that she was tired. Once she tried to leave the
group to visit a convenience store. Another time Rhonda
tried to buy a soda from a vending machine. Her nutritionconscious volunteer leader called her back to the group and
urged her to think about healthy lifestyles. Five minutes
later, Rhonda collapsed on the sidewalk, breathing heavily,
sweating, and complaining of a severe headache.
When the agent-leader arrived, she asked if Rhonda had
taken a snack or water since breakfast, explaining that, as a
diabetic, she needed these to keep up with trip demands.
“There’s no record of that on my roster,” her volunteer said.
Sure enough, data was entered incorrectly on the roster.
Wolfpack County’s Trip Roster
Youth
Age Sex Medical Condition
Phone Contact
Rhonda Jones
17
M
None
(910) 000-0000
Lamont Owens 15
F
Diabetes-snack, water, breaks
(910) 111-1111
Betzi Williams
F
Asthma-daily pill; inhaler
(910) 222-2222
16
What you wish you could have known
• How could the volunteer leader get such inaccurate
information on Rhonda’s condition?
• How did Rhonda’s 4-H agent know what to ask about
Rhonda?
• How might the agent, volunteer, or the 4-Her have
contributed to more accurate data in this situation?
• What information about a club or activity could help 4-H
volunteers and professionals better understand how and
why their program makes a difference?
(4) H Files #3
Two curious pre-teens wandered into the camp recreation hall
just after registration. Counselors had responded to an
emergency request and left registration materials on the
table. Among the tidbits of data the interlopers discovered
was a comment that Tim, a 9-year old, sometimes had
problems with bedwetting.
Tim was teased by kids throughout the camp all week, but
swore to counselors that he had not shared his “secret.”
What you wish you could have known
• How could the handling of data have saved everyone the
trouble that Tim experienced?
• Even if data is handled confidentially at registration, are
there other points when sensitive information might be
compromised? How can such breaches be avoided?
What you need to know to help youth?
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Enrollment data
Medical data
Personal interests and gifts
Important relationships
Prior experience
What does your program need
to show impact and improve?
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Enrollment data
Medical data
Personal interests and gifts
Important relationships
Prior experience
Program evaluation
Process data
Outcome data
How can you
collect and handle data wisely?
Collecting Data - General
• Determine what’s needed and how it will be used
• Develop instruments that are relevant, brief,
understandable, unambiguous
• Develop and follow a clear, consistent process for asking
questions and recording feedback (similar across activities,
adapted for specific activities)
• Adapt procedures to specific circumstances: cultural,
literacy, different styles or (dis)abilities
• Use new opportunities to check existing data
• Anticipate a broad range of questions that may help in
understanding/responding to youth informally
How can you
collect and handle data wisely?
Collecting Data – Specific
• Select time and place to maximize accuracy, completeness
• Confirm that participants are part of a targeted audience
• Explain the purpose and procedure before implementing an
evaluation, whether survey, interview, or observation
• Describe how to use any special equipment and confirm its
operating order and participants’ skills before starting
• Thank participants and emphasize the value of their input
• Allow for questions, whether on-site or remote
• For mail or web surveys, provide reminders or incentives for
completion and submission on time
How can you
collect and handle data wisely?
Preparation and Processing Data – General
• Develop and implement a checklist to mark & track datasets
• Develop, test, implement, & monitor an electronic database,
including a plan to collate/integrate all types of data
• Develop and check a codebook matching the database
• Check data for accuracy, checking with respondents when
necessary, and noting changes in a codebook journal
• Develop and consistently implement procedures for
processing ambiguous and missing data
• Develop and consistently implement procedures for inverted
items, scale scores, coding open-ended responses, etc.
Codebook
Question Item
Variable
Code
Range of Responses
Missing data
1. Age
AGE
1-99; Missing = blank
5. Involvement in youth organizations
4-H
1 = Yes; Blank = No
SCOUTS
1 = Yes; Blank = No
SPORTS
1 = Yes; Blank = No
11. 1000 mg is equal to:
KMEAS
A (1) to E (5) multiple choice
21. Low fat foods do not taste as good
as higher-fat foods.
ATASTE
A (1) to E (5) SA-SD
31. Using the table and menu below,
calculate the saturated fat.
SESTFAT
A (1) to E (5) multiple choice
41. Estimate the number of minutes of
strenuous exercise you will do each
day in the next month.
AMINEX
XX (number of minutes)
51. Describe how “Eat Smart, Move
More” has changed your health habits.
BESMM
Code by keyword: 1 = low
fat; 2 = exercise; 3 = wellbeing
How can you
collect and handle data wisely?
Handling Data – General
• Keep completed evaluation tools and data in a secure
location at all times (e.g., supervised, locked cabinet)
• Code forms and use one roster to track individuals
• Limit access to data and train staff to act ethically
• Restrict description of youth responses to protect
individuals
• Keep track of the tools, procedures, codebook, and other
procedures used to collect, organize, and handle data
Data Collection and Medical Decisions
Before you treat, check
• Accuracy: the right tool, protocol, conditions
– A blood pressure cuff doesn’t tell the condition of liver
• Redundancy: multiple times and tools to confirm
– Asking the patient what surgery he/she expects may be
revealing
• Complexity: appreciating multiple influences
– Knowing diabetic status, medications informs diagnosis
• Urgency: need to collect and assess data quickly
– If you’re not breathing, you need Oxygen, not a
complex diagnosis of possible causes